Apple cider, slow cookers, pulled pork… it’s the perfect fall recipe! Easy to set and forget until meal time, this slow cooker apple cider pulled pork is a great recipe for everything from harvest field meals to a quick, protein packed on-the-go meal during busy sports seasons… and you get bonus points for eating pork during National Pork Month!
Rachael Korman, our farmer volunteer who submitted this recipe, used to be a hog farmer. Hogs gave them their family their farming start, and over time they transitioned to crop farmers. Now raising corn, soybeans, and two boys, Rachael stays busy- and there is no other time busier on the farm than October, during harvest. Between her roles on the farm during harvest, the boy’s school and sports schedules, occasionally substitute teaching at school, and all of the other things that come along with being an adult, Rachael combats this busyness with an easy slow cooker meal. If you give this slow cooker apple cider pulled pork recipe a try, we’d love to hear how it went!
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pulled Pork
Course: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy12
servings15
minutes7
hours59
minutes8
hours14
minutesIngredients
4-5 lbs pork shoulder (pork butt)
2 cups apple cider
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 large apples- cored and quartered
Directions
- In a bowl, whisk together the apple cider, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar until the sugar dissolves.
- Add the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cinnamon, salt, and pepper to the liquid mixture. Stir well to combine.
- Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker.
- Pour the marinade over the pork, ensuring it’s evenly coated.
- Add the quartered apples to the slow cooker, arranging them around the pork.
- Cover the slow cooker and set it to LOW.
- Cook for 8-10 hours, or until the pork easily shreds with a fork.
- Once done, remove the pork from the slow cooker and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Using two forks, shred the pork.
- Strain the cooking liquid and drizzle some over the shredded pork for extra flavor and moisture.
- Serve on buns or as desired, with your choice of sauces and sides.
Notes
- If you’d like, you can use a slow cooker liner for easy clean up!
- Aside from the classic served-on-buns option, a pulled pork bowl is a great way to eat this! Add the pulled pork to a bowl as a base, then top with BBQ sauce, pickles, pickled onions, or whatever your heart desires!
